1

The Effects of African Swine Fever to the Livelihood Hog Raisers

in the Municipality of Lope de Vega, Northern Samar

DEGUINIO, JUDY ANN B.

EVASCO, CLEAH GRACE LEIGH T.
LONGYAPON, ROSEMARIE T.
PIALAGO, MARK ANTHONY A.
SURIO, EDEN L.
TOBELLO, RODEL D.

A Research
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements for the Subject of Degree
Bachelor of Technology and Livelihood Education
Major in Agri-fishery Arts
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN PHILIPPINES
UNIVERSITY TOWN, NORTHERN SAMAR

2021
 2

APPROVAL SHEET
This research titled THE EFFECTS OF AFRICAN SWINE FEVER TO
THE LIVELIHOOD HOG REASERS IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF LOPE DE VEGA,
NORTHERN SAMAR prepared and submitted by DEGUINIO, JUDY ANN B.,
EVASCO, CLEAH GRACEE LEIGH T., LONGYAPON, ROSE MARIE T., PIALAGO,
MARK ANTHONY A., SURIO, EDEN L., and TOBELLO, RODEL D. in partial
fulfillment of the requirements for degree Bachelor of Technology
and Livelihood Education major in Agri-Fishery Arts, is hereby
recommended for acceptance and approval.

SIONY C. UBANE, PhD TINA C. DATO, LPT

Course Professor Adviser
Date: ___________ Date: __________

Recommended for acceptance and approval:

PANEL OF EXAMINERS

MARLO D. ALVAREZ, PhD

Chairman

Date: ____________

Mary June T. Adalla, PhD Ronie L. Macaldo, LPT

Member Member
Date: ______________ Date: _____________

Accepted and approved of the College of Education, in

partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree Bachelor
of Technology and Livelihood Education major in Agri-Fishery
Arts.

TITO M. CABILI, PhD

Dean, College of Education
Date: ______________
 3

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

African swine fever (ASF) is one the most important of all

swine diseases due to its significant sanitary and socioeconomic

consequences. Infected animals show a wide variety of clinical

forms and lesions that vary in terms of the virulence of the

virus and the immunological characteristics of the host.1

African swine fever (ASF) has reached pandemic proportions

in 2018, being now present in all continents except for America

and Oceania. The fatal viral disease was endemic in several

African countries and in the Italian island of Sardinia, where it

has remained confined for more than 30 years. The disease was

detected in Eastern Europe in 2007 and since then spread

westwards, reaching the European Union in 2014. Up to 9 EU

countries have so far detected ASF. Several epidemiological

scenarios are observed. There is a need to better understand the

evolution of ASF, the dynamics of the disease in wild boar and

the key for successful interventions that have contributed to

mitigating ASF impact A commercial vaccine to control ASF is not

yet available, and researchers are under pressure to obtain cost-

1
Penrith ML, Vosloo W. Review of African Swine Fever: Transmission
Spread and Control. J S Afr Vet Assoc. 2009; 80:58–62.
https://journals.jsava.aosis.co.za/index.php/jsava/article/view/172
 4

effective, safe and efficient vaccines for the different

epidemiological scenarios.2

The pig (and its close relatives, boars and hogs) is the

only natural host of the double-stranded, meaning the virus does

not cause harm to humans or other animals. This does not mean

that humans and other animals cannot spread the virus as

carriers; African swine fever (ASF) is commonly carried by

arthropods, such as the soft-bodied tick, through uptake of blood

from infected pigs.

Contamination generally occurs via direct contact with

tissue and bodily fluids from infected or carrier pigs, including

discharges from the nose, mouth, urine and faeces or infected

semen. It also spreads through transport and consumption of

contaminated food products, and some cases have originated from

failure to comply with biosecurity standards by feeding waste

food to domestic pigs. Although the virus in wild boar and hogs

does not manifest any signs of the disease, it remains highly

contagious across all swine species and can survive in pigs for

long periods of time post-slaughter – even in frozen carcasses.

It is also important to note that curing and smoking pork

products does not destroy the virus.

2
Jose Manuel Sánchez-Vizcaíno, Alberto Laddomada and Marta Martínez
Avilés. Published on 27 January 2021 Front. Vet. Sci. doi:
10.3389/fvets.2020.632292 https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/8973/
african-swine-fever#:~:text=African%20swine%20fever%20(ASF)%20has,for%20more%
20than%2030%20years
 5

It is vital to immediately distinguish the disease that is

infecting a herd; ASF and classical swine fever are caused by

very similar viruses which are only distinguishable by laboratory

testing. Notifying a vet as soon as any signs arise is the best

way to ensure the correct quarantine and treatment procedures are

followed – it could save the rest of your pigs.

Mortality rate in infected groups of pigs is high and there

is no vaccination proven to prevent or cure infection, therefore,

it is crucial that control begins on-farm.3

This disease only affects porcine species, both wild and

domestic, and produces a variety of clinical signs such as fever

and functional disorders of the digestive and respiratory

systems. Furthermore, a specific host will not necessarily always

play the same active role in the spread and maintenance of ASF in

a particular area.

Unlike most livestock diseases, no vaccine or specific

treatment is currently available for ASF. Therefore, disease

control is mainly based on early detection and the application of

strict sanitary and biosecurity measures. Survivor pigs can

remain persistently infected for months which may contribute to

3
The Pig Site website. Copyright 2000-2021 Global Ag Media.
https://www.thepigsite.com/disease-guide/african-swine-fever-asf#:~:text=The%
20pig%20(and%20its% 20close,to%20humans%20or%20other%20animals.
 6

virus transmission and thus the spread and maintenance of the

disease, thereby complicating attempts to control it.4

The researcher would to like to determine the effects of

African Swine Fever to the livelihood hog raisers in the

Municipality of Lope de Vega, so that the problem can be

addressed timely and properly. This study could help the

community, Barangay Officials as well as the hog raisers to be

responsible and to solve this problem.

Statement of the Problem

This study aimed to determine the effects of African Swine

Fever to the livelihood hog raisers in Municipality of Lope de

Vega, Northern Samar.

This will expect to answer the following questions:

1. What is the Profile of the respondents in terms of?

1.1 Age;

1.2 Sex;

1.3 Civil Status;

1.4 Occupation;

1.5 Years of Managing and Raising Swine; and

1.6 Monthly Income

4
Gallardo, M.C., Reoyo, A.d.l.T., Fernández-Pinero, J. et al. African
Swine Fever: A Global View of the Current Challenge. Porc Health Manag 1, 21
(2015). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40813-015-0013-y
 7

2. What particular Barangays in Lope de Vega that are

affected by African Swine Fever?

3. How many livelihood hog raisers in Lope de Vega are

affected by African Swine Fever?

4. How many pigs were affected by African Swine Fever in

Lope de Vega?

5. What is the effect of African Swine Fever to the

livelihood hog raisers in Lope de Vega?

6. Is there a significant relationship of African Swine

Fever to the livelihood hog raisers in Lope de Vega?

Objectives of the Study

This study aimed to determine the effects of African Swine

Fever to the livelihood hog raisers in the municipality of Lope

de Vega.

Specifically, this aimed to:

1. To determine the profile of the respondents in terms of:

1.1 Age;

1.2 Sex;

1.3 Civil Status

1.4 Occupation;

1.5 Years of Managing and Raising Swine; and

 8

1.6 Monthly Income

2. Determine the particular Barangays in Lope de Vega that

are affected by African Swine Fever;

3. Find out how many livelihood hog raisers that are

affected by African Swine Fever in Lope de Vega;

4. Find out how many pigs were affected by African Swine

Fever in Lope de Vega;

5. Identify the effects of African Swine Fever to the

livelihood hog raisers in Lope de Vega; and

6. Determine the significant relationship of African Swine

Fever to the livelihood hog raisers in Lope de Vega.

Significance of the Study

This study considers its great importance to the following:

Backyard Hog Raiser. This study will be useful to the

backyard hog raisers to improve their awareness of the impact or

effects of African Swine Fever on their livelihood, since they

are dealing the hog raising.

Community. This study will be more relevant to the community

to spread awareness on how African Swine Fever affects to the

livelihood hog raisers.

 9

Local Government. The findings of the study will help local

government to educate and inform backyard hog raisers about the

African Swine Fever, its impact and effects to the livelihood.

Students. The result of this study may provide ideas to the

students on the effects of African Swine Fever that will serve

them as their study.

Future Researcher. This will serve as useful guidelines for

future studies on African Swine Fever. This will also contribute

to the literature about the history of African Swine Fever.

Scope and Limitations of the Study

This study determines the effects of African Swine Fever to

the livelihood hog raisers in the municipality of Lope de Vega.

Its respondents are limited only to those backyard hog raisers

who are majorly or currently affected of this contagious viral

disease of pigs affecting lots of backyard hog raisers in the

proper place of Lope de Vega.

The target of the researchers is to include all those hog

raisers in Lope De Vega who are currently affected and the

employee of Municipal Agriculture Office.

The Barangay Bonifacio in Lope De Vega was included in the

study that is said to be one of the place that affected by the

 10

disease. According to Dr. Jose Luis Acompanado, a provincial

veterinarian, 120 pigs have already been culled to contain the

spread of the virus.

This study covers all the Barangays in Lope De Vega which

are affected by the disease. This study aims to determine the

different Barangays in Lope de Vega that are affected by the

African Swine Fever. This includes Bonifacio, Poblacion, Getigo,

Henaronagan, Cagamisarag, San Francisco, Magsaysay, Osmeña, Lower

Caynaga, San Jose, Bayho, Cag-aguingay, and San Miguel. However,

researchers were selected only the most affected Barangay in Lope

de Vega to conduct the study.

Theoretical Framework

It is stated from the theory of Knowledge, Attitudes and

Practices Related to African Swine Fever within Smallholder Pig

Production in Northern Uganda published last April 2016 by Edwin

Chenais that Uganda is a low‐income country with the largest pig

population in East Africa. Pig keeping has a large potential,

commercially and as a tool for poverty reduction, but African

Swine Fever (ASF) is a major hurdle for development of the

sector. The objective of this study was to evaluate knowledge,

attitudes and practices related to ASF in the smallholder pig

production value chain in Northern Uganda. The study included

 11

three separate series of Participatory Rural Appraisals (PRA),

comprising purposively selected farmers and other actors in the

pig production value chain. In the PRAs, various participatory

epidemiology tools were used. A total of 49 PRAs and 574

participants, representing 64 different villages, were included.

The results indicate that participants were well aware of the

clinical signs of ASF, routes for disease spread and measures for

disease control. However, awareness of the control measures did

not guarantee their implementation. A majority of middlemen and

butchers acknowledged having sold live pigs, carcasses or pork

they believed infected with ASF. Outbreaks of ASF had a strong

negative impact on participants’ socio‐economic status with loss

of revenue and reversal into more severe poverty. In conclusion,

lack of knowledge is not what is driving the continuous

circulation of ASF virus in this setting. To control ASF and

reduce its impact, initiatives that stimulate changes in

management are needed. Because the behavior of all actors in the

value chain is largely influenced by the deep rural poverty in

the region, this needs to be combined with efforts to reduce

rural poverty.5

This article entitled Dispute Settlement on Pig Products:

Case study of European and Russian trade written by Renaldi E.

5
Chenais E. (16 April 2015) Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Related
to African Swine Fever Within Smallholder Pig Production in Northern Uganda.
Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/tbed.12347
 12

Hendrawan, Jorgi A. Purnomo, Firman Rosdjadi Djoemadi, Aluisius

Hery Pratono, Taufik Iman Santoso published last March 2019,

attempts to discuss how World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute

settlement system address the case number DS475 - Measures on the

Importation of Live Pigs, Pork and Other Pig Products from the

European Union. Adopting the content analysis method, the authors

stand for the European Union where it is thought that the policy

of Russia applying the import ban on pork products of EU is such

a blunder and might not bring benefit at all for both parties.

The findings indicate that the embargo policy to Russia could

generate a negative impact on the EU countries, especially for

those who become key players in the industry.6

The major relationships that affect the supply and price of

hogs are described in this bulletin. The formulation and

statistical fitting of these relations assist in understanding

and predicting the effects of economic factors upon hog

production and prices. This bulletin is intended to aid

Government officials, agricultural economists, extension workers,

and members of the industry in understanding the forces that

affect the hog economy. The chief benefits of the bulletin to

farmers will come through its use by Federal and State personnel

who work directly with farmers. Hog production and prices have
6
Renaldi E. Hendrawan, Jorgi A. Purnomo, Firman Rosdjadi Djoemadi,
Aluisius Hery Pratono, Taufik Iman Santoso (2019 March) Dispute Settlement on
Pig Products: Case study of European and Russian trade. Retrieved from
https://www.atlantis-press.com/proceedings/sores-18/55915410
 13

exhibited fairly regular recurrent cycles since 1949. An

explanation for these cycles is developed, using the supply and

demand functions for the industry and incorporating the time lags

inherent in hog production. A system of six equations is fitted

statistically to measure the relative effect of various factors

upon variables in the hog economy. This study deals primarily

with the supply and price of hogs. An intensive analysis of the

demand for pork, as well as that for beef and lamb, is presented

in Technical Bulletin 1253, "Demand and Prices for Meat — Factors

Influencing Their Historical Development," by Harold F. Breimyer.

The cobweb theorem provides a theoretical explanation for

many economic cycles. This theorem explains a cycle in terms of

the supply and demand curves for the industry that are based on a

lag between production decisions and marketing. The hog

production process has been described for many years as an

example of a cobweb phenomenon. In a cobweb model, price in one

period affects production in the succeeding period, which in turn

affects price, and so on. The price-quantity relation given in

the cobweb is an extremely simplified model of hog production.

There are many factors that cause variation in the quantity of

pork produced and the price received for it. The number of sows

farrowing, the pigs raised per sow, the number of hogs

slaughtered and their average weight, all affect the quantity of

pork produced. Storage holdings of pork and pork production

 14

affect the price of pork, which in turn affects the price of

hogs, which affects the number of sows farrowing in following

periods. All these variables within the hog industry are

influenced by numerous factors outside the industry, such as the

prices and supplies of raw materials (feed grains) and competing

goods (beef, poultry). The effects of these many factors upon

variables in the hog economy are estimated in a statistical model

using quarterly data. The variables to be explained in the

equations are: (1) the number of sows farrowing, (2) number of

hogs slaughtered, (3) quantity of pork produced, (4) cold storage

holdings of pork, (5) retail price of pork, and (6) prices

received by farmers for hogs.

Efficiency of conversion of feed to hog products has been

improving very slowly. Technological gains in hog production, and

in the livestock industry generally, have been quicker to appear

in the use of labor and capital than in the use of feed. A

notable exception to this general statement is the broiler

industry where remarkable improvement has been made in the feed

conversion ratio.

Simultaneous relationship is indicated between pork price

and consumption. In turn, consumption is closely tied to

production; quarterly differences in storage, exports, and

imports are of minor importance in the distribution of pork

 15

(table 6). As pork is a perishable agricultural commodity

produced continuously throughout the year, price must adjust so

that current production continuously clears the market after

allowing for storage, imports, and exports. Pork imports and

exports have been approximately equal in recent years, so the

major adjustment between production and consumption occurs

through changes in storage. During the peak slaughter months in

the fall and winter, pork moves into storage only to move out in

the summer months when fewer hogs are slaughtered. The

consumption of competing meats is affected by pork consumption

and price, but, as with pork, the production of other meats and

poultry is essentially predetermined for a particular quarter.7

To study adoption level of ASF biocontainment technologies

and factors associated with pig farmers' adoption behavior, a

sample of 60 pig farmers from six local government areas were

selected through "stratified two-stage random sampling" method.

Data were gathered with the use of structured interview schedule.

Assessment criteria in forms of frequency, percentage, and mean

and product moment correlation coefficient were calculated.

Majority of pig farmers (86.67%, n=60) were at low level of

adoption behavior, followed by 10% (6/60) at medium level and

3.33% (2/60) at high level of adoption of ASF biocontainment

7
Arthur A. Harlow (2013 September) Factors Affecting the Price and
Supply of Hogs. Retrieved from https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=-
b8XAAAAYAAJ&hl=en&pg=GBS.PA1
 16

technologies. Indicating that majority of pig farmers did not

adopt ASF biocontainment technologies. Farmer's income from

piggery, knowledge of biocontainment strategies

and extension contact had positive and high significant

relationship with overall adoption by pig farmers. Specific needs

and emerging opportunities for improved cooperative extension

activities were identified. They included services for early

detection of ASF virus (ASFV)-infected pigs by University based

officers, need to produce and distribute ASFV-free pigs by the

state Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources (MANR), and

use of ASF specific extension materials by Oyo State Agriculture

Development Programme (ADP) officers.8

The theories above are related to the present research

because it aims to discuss about the effects of African Swine

Fever that emerged in the country to the livelihood of hog

raisers in Lope de Vega, Northern Samar.

8
Renaldi E. Hendrawan, Jorgi A. Purnomo, Firman Rosdjadi Djoemadi,
Aluisius Hery Pratono, Taufik Iman Santoso (2019 March) Dispute Settlement on
Pig Products: Case study of European and Russian trade. Retrieved from
https://www.atlantis-press.com/proceedings/sores-18/55915410
 17

Conceptual Framework

Figure 1 showed the paradigm. It conceptualizes the

relationship between the dependent and independent variables used

in this study.

The independent variable is the profile of livelihood hog

raisers (in terms of age, sex, civil status, occupation, years of

managing and raising swine, and monthly income), and the effects

of African Swine Fever. While the dependent variable is the

livelihood of hog raisers.

This study looked if there is a relationship between the

independent and dependent variables. One-way source of income of

the residents in Lope de Vega is raising swine, however, African

Swine Fever really affects their livelihood, it is because it

negatively affects their source of income and the supply of pigs

will decline.
 18

Paradigm

Dependent variable Independent Variable

1. Profile of the
hog raisers in
terms of:
 Age
 Sex
 Civil Status
Livelihood of Hog  Occupation
Raisers  Years of
Managing and
Raising Swine
 Monthly Income

2. African Swine
Fever

Figure 1. A paradigm showing the relationship among the

variables.

Null Hypotheses

Based on the formulated specific problems and objectives of

the study, the following hypotheses were claimed:

1. African Swine Fever has no effects to the livelihood hog

raisers.

2. There is no significant relationship of African Swine Fever

to the livelihood hog raisers in Lope de Vega.

 19

Definition of Terms

In order to have a clearer understanding of the text of this

study, some terms were herein conceptually and operationally

defined.

African Swine Fever. Conceptually and operationally, it is a

highly contagious and deadly viral disease affecting both

domestic and feral swine of all ages. In this study, African

Swine Fever is not a threat to human health and cannot be

transmitted from pigs to human. It is not a food safety issue.

But it can affect the livelihood of the people.9

Hog Raising. Conceptually and operationally, it consists of

rising and breeding domestic pigs mostly for food (pork products,

bacon) and also for their skin. It also serves as the primary

source of income.10

Hog Raiser. It refers to a person who raised and breeds of

domestic pigs as livestock.

Livelihood. Conceptually and operationally, it is a means of

making a living. It encompasses people’s capabilities, assets,

9
U.S. Department of Agriculture: Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service. October 19, 2021 https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus
/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/swine-disease-information/african-
swine-fever/african-swine-fever
10
Farms.com website. Copyright 1995-2021 Farms.com, Ltd.
https://m.farms.com/swine/swine-farming.aspx
 20

income and activities required to secure the necessities of

life.11

Swine. Conceptually, it is a name for any of the cloven-

hoofed mammals of the family Suidae, native to the Old World. A

swine has a rather long, mobile snout, a heavy, relatively short-

legged body, a thick, bristly hide, and a small tail. The name

swine is applied mainly to domestic animals, which are also known

as hogs.12

Hog. Conceptually, it is usually referring to an older and

bigger domesticated pig weighing more than 54 kilograms or 120

lbs.13

11
United nations: Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia.
https://archive.unescwa.org/livelihood-activities Copyright ESCWA 2020
12
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright 2012, Columbia
University Press. Published on Infoplease website.
https://www.infopleae.com/encylcopedia/ecology/cultivation/ag-animals/swine
13
Difference.Guru: Difference between Hog, Pig and Boar. February 7, 2018
https://difference.guru/difference-between-hog-pig-and-boar/
 21

CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

Livelihood of Hog Raisers

Animal production is design to fit your interest and needs.

It provides you within important on how to plan a small business.

Above all, since human resources are major factors in any

business enterprise, it shows you qualities of a good

entrepreneur. It also covers the basic information you need in

raising animals such as the different breeds of farm animals that

thrive in your country; housing for their confinement; and other

needed equipment. Finally, Animal Production discuss about the

principles of the feeding farm animals; maintaining cleanliness

and sanitation of the farm; and marketing farm animals and their

by product. (Module TLE 2015)

Swine, an even- toed, hoofed mammal closely related to

peccary and hippopotamus. There are both wild and domestic swine,

all belonging to the order Artiodactyla. Wild swine are known by

a variety of names; domestic swine are commonly known as hogs and

pigs. Swine are short legged, short tailed animal with a barrel-

shaped body ranging in length from about 2 to 5 feet (0.6- 1.5

meters). The head tapers toward the snout, which ends in the flat

mobile disc. The disc is use to lift push and flow or root in the

ground. The swine large canine teeth grow upward and outward,
 22

wearing against each other to produce a sharp cutting edge. Each

of the swine feet has four hoofed toes are located higher up on

the leg. Swine can trot, center and run as fast as the average

man. (Aliwalas et. Al 2007).

Hog Raising serves as the primary source of income (Grolier

International 1992). The number of the swine raised and the

prices at which they are gold in the market vary widely from year

to year. Depending on the number factor order or over supply of

pork and the export demand. There have been years when raisers

sold their hog for less than cost of raising them. On the other

hand, some of the advantages in holding hog production are as

follows. (1) Pork provides continuous income; (2) when hog

raising is a part of farming operation, remuneration employment

is provided; (3) pork hog can be raised profitability by farm

workers; (4) since hog raising are adapted to self-feeding and

full feeding, the amount of labor is rather low; (5) It is

adapted for diversified farming (Villanueva et. Al 1991). In

addition to this, backyard swine raising of few head hog or

fattening ones uses hard feeding as a common practice. Animals

are feed with feeds and other available in the form. Swine also

threatened along roadway and in backyard.

Bureau of Agriculture Statistics (2008), reported that as

with other domesticated farm animals, swine production in the

 23

country is done in both backyard and commercial farm units. Based

on 2001 data about 76.78% of swine are kept in the backyard while

remaining 23.22% are in commercial farms. In recent years,

backyard swine are slowly catching up with its commercial

counterpart in the terms of organization of the data and

reports.14

The African Swine Fever (ASF) that ravaged backyard hog

raising is said to have been weakening alongside the hopes urban

livestock raisers can recoup their losses as well as the source

of their income. According to Department of Agriculture Spokesman

Noel O. Reyes, the ASF is showing swine of slowing down, even in

the most affected areas. Reyes stated that ASF is tapering off,

in Pampanga and Bulacan, and even in Quezon City, and the

quarantine has been sustained to contain the disease. He

emphasized that the government is serious in banning hog raising

in all highly urbanized areas in the country, specifically the

national capital Region (NCR).

Told of the concerns affected backyard raisers in Quezon

City that switching to other livelihood is not easy and will take

time, Reyes said that the Department of Agriculture is ready to

provide training for alternative small livelihood for affected

14
Anonymous (2015). Thesis|PDF. Published on Scribd, page 5-7, October
16, 2015 https://www.scribd.com/doc/285285602/thesis
 24

backyard hog raisers. All the local government units concerned

have to do is to coordinate with the agency.15

African Swine Fever

African Swine Fever (ASF)is a disease that can influence

pigs of all ages. The key clinical signs incorporate blue-purple

cyanosis of nose, ears, tail and lower legs; high fever; and

heavy discharge from eyes and nose.

Based on this foreign literary article written by Katja

Schulz, Franz S. Conraths, Sandra Blome, Christoph Staubach, and

Carola Sauter-Louis stated that since the introduction of African

Swine Fever (ASF) into Georgia in 2007, the disease has been

spreading in an unprecedented way. There are still some countries

that are free from ASF or African Swine Fever but still afraid in

the chances of the epidemic disease enter countries and may

affect the pigs and wild boar. ASF was often described as being a

highly contagious disease with mortality up to 100% but, the

belief that the disease might enter a naïve population and

rapidly affect the entire susceptible population needs to be

15
Diega, Alladin S. The Broader Look – Backyard Hog Raisers, Groups
Grapple with Swine Virus’s Impact with Loans. Published on Business Mirror
website. January 16, 2000. https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/01/16/backyard-
hog-raisers-groups-grapple-with-swine-viruss-impact-with-loans/
 25

critically reviewed. At present, it enters the Philippines which

causes fear from the citizen in the country.16

Another literature by Mary-Louise Penrith written March of

year 2009 explained that African swine fever (ASF) is a

devastating hemorrhagic fever of pigs that causes up to 100 %

mortality, for which there is no vaccine. It is caused by a

unique DNA virus that is maintained in an ancient cycle between

warthogs and argasid ticks, making it the only known DNA

arbovirus. ASF has a high potential for transboundary spread, and

has twice been transported from Africa to other continents-

Europe and subsequently the Caribbean and Brazil (1957, 1959) and

the Caucasus (2007). It is also a devastating constraint for pig

production in Africa. Research at Onderstepoort Veterinary

Institute has made and is making important contributions to

knowledge of this disease, focusing on the cycle in warthogs and

transmission from that cycle to domestic pigs, resistance to its

effects in domestic pigs, and the molecular genetic

characterization and epidemiology of the virus.17

According to The Pig Site, African Swine Fever is synonymous

to classical swine fever (CSF) (hog cholera). The clinical signs

16
Schulz, K.; Conraths, F. J.; Blome, S.; Staubach, C.; Sauter-Louis, C.
(2019). African Swine Fever: Fast and Furious or Slow and Steady? Viruses. 11.
10.3390/v11090866.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335948032_African_S
wine_Fever_Fast_and_Furious_or_Slow_and_Steady
17
Penrith M. L. (2009). African Swine Fever. The Onderstepoort Journal of
Veterinary Research Vol. 76(1), 91-95. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
19967933/
 26

and after death injuries of the two diseases are practically

undefined. ASF is brought by an exceptional infection which is

unmistakable from that of CSF and which contaminates just local

and wild pigs and an assortment of delicate bodied ticks. The

infection is native in Africa south of the equator, in warthogs

and bramble pigs, however the contamination in them delivers no

clinical disease. It circulates among warthogs and the delicate

bodied ticks which occupy their tunnels. The ticks transmit it

through all phases of their life cycle and propagate it. It is

likewise endemic in the local pigs of some African nations.

The pig (and its nearby relatives, hogs and boars) is the

main regular host of the twofold stranded, Asfarviridae family of

infections, which means the infection doesn't cause harm to

people or different creatures. This doesn't imply that people and

different creatures can't spread the infection as transporters;

African swine fever (ASF) is normally conveyed by arthropods, for

example, the delicate bodied tick, through take-up of blood from

contaminated pigs.

Contamination happens by means of direct contact with tissue

and natural liquids from tainted or bearer pigs, including

releases from the nose, mouth, pee and defecation or contaminated

semen. It additionally spreads through transport and utilization

of defiled nourishment items, and a few cases have started from

 27

inability to conform to biosecurity norms by bolstering waste

nourishment to residential pigs. It is accepted that an

exceptionally pathogenic strain of ASF was introduces to

residential pigs and, accordingly, wild hog populaces in the port

of Poti, Georgia, in 2007 when waste nourishment from a ship

beginning in South Africa was encouraged to nearby pigs.

Despite the fact that the infection in wild pig and hogs

doesn't show any indications of the disease, it remains

profoundly infectious over all swine species and can make due in

pigs for significant stretches of time post-slaughter– even in

solidified cadavers. It is likewise critical to take note of that

restoring and smoking pork items doesn't wreck the infection.

According to Zimmer, K. (2019), the overwhelming outbreak of

the African Swine Fever, a lethal infection of pigs that has

prompted millions of pig passing’s in East Asia has escalated the

endeavors to build up an immunization rapidly, however the

infection exhibits a few difficulties that are yet to be

survived. It just intensified to what Dirk Pfeiffer, a veterinary

disease transmission specialist at the City University of

Hongkong and the United Kingdom's Veterinary College calls the

“biggest animal disease outbreak ever” particularly when it has

arrived at the nation China whom he said to have numerous pigs.

Being frantic for the antibody, China has puta financial limit
 28

around $15 million towards research about the infection, prodding

scientists to discover rapidly. The analysts have taken a few

courses yet the infection demonstrated that it is a test

specifically with the very idea of the infection.18

The research of Dixon, L. (2019), focused on functional

genetics of ASF Virus wherein he aimed to understand the

performance of immune evasion and pathogenesis and application of

this knowledge for the improvement of vaccines. The large DNA

virus causes a hemorrhagic fever on pigs with a high socio-

economic result in affected countries. Lack of vaccine has cause

the choice for disease control to be limited. The group of Dixon

focused on research underpinning the improvement of effective

vaccines. Their approach has been broad to determine order

sequences of deadly and reduced or weakened isolates to help

define the molecular determinants of hostility and identify those

genes involved in evading host defecates included proteins that

inhibit host gene expression or transcription outcome, signal

molecule inductions and stress activated reaction. Their

knowledge about this has been applied to the coherent development

of candidate live reduced ASF Virus vaccines by targeted gene

deletions.19

18
Zimmer, K. (2019). Scientists Race to Build Vaccine for African Swine
Fever. Retrieved last September 23, 2019 from
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www/scientist.com/news-opinion/sccientists;race-
to-build-vaccine-for-african-swine-fever-66034/amp
 29

On 9 September, the Department of Agriculture confirmed the

first ASF outbreak started on 25 July 2019 in mostly backyard

pigs; 7,952 pigs died/culled. 14 of the 20pig samples from

Rodriguez Municipality in Rizal Province, Guiguinto Municipality

in Bulacan Province and Antipolo city, Rizal, tested positive for

ASF. They suspected that the causes are the food scraps from

hotels and restaurants were fed to the pigs, or from imported

pork products.

According to the research presented by Rivas R. (2019) the

ASF is not considered as a human health threat. However, humans

can be affected by the virus once tainted pork is ingested or if

people gets close to the infected meat.20

According to Zagro (2018) currently there is no authorized

vaccine for African Swine Fever. Prevention on other countries

depends on implementation of appropriate import policies and

biosecurity measures, to ensure that neither infected live pigs

nor pork products are introduced into areas free from the virus

of African Swine Fever. This is composed of ensuring the proper

disposal of waste food from aircraft, ships or vehicles coming

from affected countries and policing illegal imports of live pigs

19
Dixon, L. (2019) Cell Biology, Vaccinology, Virology. Retrieved last
September 23, 2019 from https://www.pirbright.ac.uk/users/dr-linda-dixon
20
Rivas, R. (2019, September 9). FAST FACTS: What is African swine fever?
Retrieved from https://www.google.com.ph/amp/s/amp.rappler.com/ newsbreak/iq /
239708-things-to-know-about-african-swine-fever
 30

and pork products from affected countries. During outbreaks and

in affected countries, control of African Swine Fever can be

unenviable and must be adapted to the specific epidemiological

condition.21

Proper sanitary measures may be employed including early

detection and humane killing of animals (with proper disposal of

carcasses and waste); by cleansing and disinfection;

zoning/compartmentalization and movement controls; surveillance

and elaborate epidemiological investigation; rigorous biosecurity

measures on farms. Currently there is no treatment or vaccine for

African Swine Fever. Prevention is through tight biosecurity

measures. Prevention in countries free of the disease depends on

rigorous import policies, ensuring that neither contaminated live

pigs nor pork products are introduced into areas free of ASF.

As observed in Europe and in some regions of Asia, the

transmission of ASF seems to depend largely on the wild boar

population density and their interaction with low-biosecurity pig

production systems. The good knowledge and governance of the wild

boar population and a good coordination among the Veterinary

Services, wildlife and forestry authorities are needed to

successfully prevent and control ASF. Depending on the

21
Zagro. (2018, October 3). African Swine Fever – How to prevent it from
harming your farm. Retrieved from https://www.zagro.com/african-swine-fever-
how-to-prevent-it-from-harming-yourfarm/?gclid=CjwKCAjw2qHsBRAGEiwAMbPoDOVSXm
hb9vDOge_1ZEBcN2rc6SCEMMZK07bU8ljSsJstrb00o2I56BoCuLgQAvD_BwE
 31

epidemiological condition, the engagement of the soft tick

transmitter should also be advised in the control programme.

In epidemic areas, it is difficult to get rid of the natural

source in warthogs; however, control of the soft tick vectors is

important in preventing the disease. It is also important to

ensure that meat from warthogs or infected animals is not fed to

sensitized pigs. All successful destruction programs have

involved the rapid diagnosis, killing and disposal of all animals

on infected premises, thorough cleaning and disinfection,

movement controls and surveillance.

According to Loeffen W (2018) of Wageningen University and

Research, in order to control a transmissible disease like

African swine fever at source, fast tracing of a new outbreak is

necessary. Pig farmers bear great obligation. They see their pigs

daily and will be the first to observe suspected indication. In

this point, it is essential that the right follow-up steps are

taken over quickly to affirm the disease in the laboratory or to

rule it out.22

Introduction can only be prevented by being careful with

infected animals and products from foreign counties. The

important measures for this are first, forbid imports of live

22
Loeffen, W. (2018). Prevention and control of African swine fever.
Retrieved from https://www.wur.nl/en/Research-Results/Research-Institutes/Bio
veterinary-Research/Animaldiseases/Virology/African-Swine-Fever-2/Prevention-
and-control.htm
 32

animals, meat and meat products from area where African swine

fever occurs. Also bear in mind the meat goods that are brought

in from affected regions by individuals, for example by truck

drivers on long itinerary, commuting foreign workers, hunters

hunting abroad and tourists. Secondly, prohibition on swill

feeding and being vigilant to exposing pigs and wild boar ‘by

accident' to possibly infected food products (a salami sandwich

discarded carelessly outdoors or at a petting zoo, or wild boar

with access to kitchen waste via refuse bins or refuse heaps).

Pig farmers must also be on the alert for visitors bringing food

onto their farms. Next, clean and disinfect livestock embalmment

returning from abroad. And finally, clean and disinfect materials

used when hunting in or in the locality of infected areas.

African swine fever is currently one of the leading threats

to the pig industry in the EU. As there is no a vaccine against

ASF, biosecurity is key to forbid its spreading between and

within local pig farms. This study had known that thirty-seven

preventive measures intent at reducing the spread of ASF among

domestic pigs. These measures were also assessed by ASF experts

within the framing of the EU scenario.

According to this expert panel, the most essential

preventive measures for commercial, non-commercial, and outdoor

farms were the individuality of animals and farm records; social

 33

control of the ban on swill feeding; and containment of pigs to

not allow contact with pigs from other farms, feral pigs, or wild

boar or their products. In addition to this, other preventive

measures were considered relevant in preventing ASF introduction,

namely educational activity of farmers, workers, and operators;

no contact between farmers, farm staff and external pigs;

appropriate removal of carcasses, whipping residues and food

waste; proper disposal of manure and dead animals, and abstinence

from hunting activities for a period of 48 h prior to any contact

with domestic pigs. Finally, all experts considered essential to

assist and promote the approach of veterinarians and health

services to non-commercial and outdoor farms. Competent

enforcement of these measures can lead to fundamental advances in

ASF prevention and control, and possibility contributing to the

wipeout of ASF from the EU pig sector (Jurado 2018 et.al.)23

23
Jurado, Cristina, Martínez-Avilés, Marta, Torre, D. L., Ana, Silvia.
(2018, March 26). Relevant Measures to Prevent the Spread of African Swine Fever
in the European Union Domestic Pig Sector. Retrieved from
https://www.frontiersin.org /articles/10.3389/fvets.2018.00077/full
 34

CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY

Locale of the Study

This study was conducted in the municipality of Lope de

Vega, a 4th class municipality in the province of Northern Samar.

Lope de Vega is a landlocked municipality in the coastal

province of Northern Samar. The municipality has a land area of

280.00 square kilometers or 108.11 square miles which constitutes

7.58% of Northern Samar's total area. Its population as

determined by the 2015 Census was 14,687. This represented 2.32%

of the total population of Northern Samar province, or 0.33% of

the overall population of the Eastern Visayas region. Based on

these figures, the population density is computed at 52

inhabitants per square kilometer or 136 inhabitants per square

mile.

The municipal center of Lope de Vega is situated at

approximately 12° 18’ North, 124° 38’ East, in the island of

Samar. Elevation at these coordinates is estimated at 30.2 meters

or 99.0 feet above mean sea level.

Lope de Vega has 22 barangays, namely; Bayho, Bonifacio,

Cag-aguingay, Cagamesarag, Curry, Gebonawan, Gen. Luna, getigo,

henaronagan, Lower Caynaga, Maghipid, Magsaysay, Osmeña, Paguite,

 35

Poblacion, Roxas, Sampaguita, San Francisco, San Jose, San

Miguel, Somoroy, and Upper Caynaga.

The figure 1 shows the location map of Lope de Vega, a

landlocked municipality in the province of Northern Samar.

So
ur ce
:

Map of Northern Samar with Lope de Vega

highlighted website24

Figure 1: Map of Lope de Vega in the province of

Northern Samar, highlighted with red and
encircled with blue color.

The Respondents

There were only two groups of respondents in this study.

This first group of respondents comprised the livelihood hog

raisers. The respondents supplied some information regarding the

24
Map of Lope de Vega, Northern Samar. https://upload.wikimedia.org/
Wikipedia/commons/0/0a/Ph_locator_northern_samar_lope_de_vega_.png Copyright
 36

impact of African Swine Fever, how it was started and how it

affects in their livelihood. They were given checklist

questionnaires to be evaluated as what they experience as to the

effects of African Swine Fever, and evaluated on how they manage

their hogs.

The second group of respondents comprised the employee of

Municipal Agriculture Office in Lope de Vega. This group of

respondents evaluated the interview questionnaire on what

particular Barangay has the most affected by African Swine Fever,

and how many hog raisers and pigs that are affected by African

Swine Fever.

The Variables

The variables of this study were identified as independent

variable and dependent variable. The independent variable was

identified as the profile of hog raiser (in terms of age, sex,

civil status, occupation, years of managing and raising swine,

and monthly income), and the effects of African Swine Fever.

While dependent variable identified as the livelihood of hog

raisers.

Hog raiser. It is a person who raised and breeds of domestic

pigs as livestock.
 37

African Swine Fever. It is a highly contagious hemorrhagic

viral disease of domestic and wild pigs, which is responsible for

serious economic and production losses. This transboundary animal

disease (TAD) can be spread by live or dead pigs, domestic or

wild, and pork products; furthermore, transmission can also occur

via contaminated feed and fomites (non-living objects) such as

shoes, clothes, vehicles, knives, equipment etc., due to the high

environmental resistance of ASF virus.

Hog Raising. Hog Raising serves as the primary source of

income. It is a main livelihood enterprise in the Philippines

such that there is a proliferation of backyard producers which

dominates the swine industry and a health viable commercial

sector. They can be sold alive at a livestock market or perhaps

processed into pork for home use at a local livestock

slaughtering facility.

Research Design

This study involved the descriptive-correlational research

design since it is the most appropriate design to describe the

variable and to test if there is a relationship between the

independent and dependent variable.

 38

Descriptive-correlational research design according to Good,

Barr and Scates, describes what is concerned with conditions of

relationship that exist, practices that prevail, processes that

are going on, effects that are being felt or trends that are

developing. This approach goes beyond the mere gathering and

tabulation of data. It involves the interpretation the meaning of

what is being describe.

Research Instruments

The questionnaire used by the researcher is a made test

questionnaire. The researcher will use this instrument to ensure

that the respondents personally answered all the queries.

Questionnaire A will deal with the profile of the

respondents, in terms of age, sex, civil status, occupation,

years of managing and raising swine, and monthly income.

Questionnaire B and Questionnaire C were self-structured

interview questionnaire. It was a self-structured instrument used

as guide in conducting a face-to-face interview for concrete

additional information. The target respondents were the employee

in the Municipal of Agriculture Office in Lope de Vega.

 39

Questionnaire D was a self-structured questionnaire that was

intended to the livelihood hog raisers. This instrument was

divided into two parts.

Part I – The effects of African Swine Fever to the

livelihood hog raisers. This part has a set of criteria for

ranking such as 1 – given most affected; 2 – second most

affected; 3 – third most affected; 4 – maybe most affected; and 5

– least affected.

Part II – General management of hog raising. This part has a

set of criteria for rating such as 5 – very much followed; 4 –

much followed; 3 – moderately followed; 2 – less followed; and 1

– not followed.

Validation of the Research Instrument

The initial set of instrument was presented to the

researcher’s adviser, experts, and peers and revised based on

their comments and suggestions.

The instrument used was a group-made instrument by the

researchers. It was pre-tested before being implemented in the

field. The pretesting of the instrument was done in University of

Eastern Philippines, using five (5) faculty, five (5) students,

five (5) administrators, and five (5) heads of offices at this

 40

school. An interview was also conducted to ensure accurate

answers.

The purpose of pre-testing was to determine the reaction,

comments, and suggestions on the wordings of the instrument for a

better use.

Scoring and Interpretation of Data

The status profile of the hog raisers respondents in terms

of age, sex, civil status, occupation, years of managing and

raising swine, and monthly income in the municipality of Lope De

Vega, were determined using the frequency counts, mean and

percentage. And for more interpretation of the statistical method

such as frequency and percentage distribution, numerical

schedules will be posted.

Independent Variables

Age. The ages of the respondents will be tabulated; the mean

will be computed.
 41

Civil Status. This will be categorized into single, married,

widowed, and Separated. These will be presented with these

following codes:

Single - 1

Married - 2

Widowed - 3

Separated - 4

Frequency count and percentages will be determined.

Occupation. This will be categorized according to their

status of work.

Monthly Income. This will be categorized according to their

salary grade. Frequency count and percentages will be computed.

The data gathered from the questionnaire's result, indicated

the status of the Barangays in Lope de Vega were affected by the

African Swine Fever. The mean of the scores on the checklist was

computed an interpreted as follows:

Scale Mean Ranges Interpretation

5 4.2-5.0 Very High

4 3.4-4.1 High

3 2.6-3.3 Moderate

2 1.8-2.5 Low
 42

1 1.0-1.7 Very Low

The respondents were asked to answer regardless of how many

livelihood hog raisers and pigs were affected by the African

Swine Fever in the different Barangay in Lope de Vega. It was

ranked by the respondents in the following manner.

Rank Mean Ranges Interpretation

1 4.2-5.0 Given Most Affected

2 3.4-4.1 Second Most Affected

3 2.6-3.3 Third Most Affected

4 1.8-2.5 Maybe Affected

5 1.0-1.7 Least Affected

General Management of Hog Raising. This was categorized into

the following with corresponding scores and interpretation:

Scale Mean Ranges Interpretation

Always - 5 4.2-5.0 Very Much Followed

Often - 4 3.4-4.1 Much Followed

Sometimes - 3 2.6-3.3 Moderately Followed

Seldom - 2 1.8-2.5 Less Followed

Never - 1 1.0-1.7 Not Followed

 43

Population and Sampling Design

The population of this study was composed of livelihood hog

raisers that are affected by the African Swine Fever.

A stratified random sampling was used to generate accurate

sample represented by each respondent. The fish bowl method was

also utilized to avoid bias on the part of choosing sample

respondents to answer the survey questionnaire.

Data Gathering Procedure

In gathering the data of this study, the following

procedures were observed.

Foremost, the researcher sought permission from the

President, Director, and College Dean upon recommendation of the

Graduate School Coordinator to conduct the study. The researchers

will also ask permission to the Barangay Officials in the

Municipality of Lope de Vega through a letter signed by the

adviser, professor, chairman of the department and the dean of

the college to conduct the study.

Upon approval of request to conduct the study, the

researchers will start gathering the data through distributing

 44

the survey questionnaire along with the personal interview of the

respondents in the barangays where they gathered. And finally,

right after the data gathering, the researchers will collect,

record, tally and tabulate the data to facilitate the statistical

computation, analysis and interpretation.

Statistical Treatment of Data

This study will be tabulated and analyzed statistically

using frequency counts, percentage, ranking, and weighted mean.

To measure the relationship among variables, the study employed

descriptive and multiple regression analysis, with the level of

significance at .05.

1. Frequency Counts. These were used to tabulate the data

obtained.

2. Percentage

Percentage = Frequency x 100

N
Where: % = percentage

F = frequency

N = number of respondents

3. Ranking. A descriptive measure was used to compare the

positional importance of the computed weighted mean value.

 45

4. Weighted Mean

Wm = ∑fx
N

Where: ∑ = summation

F = frequency

x = score/weight

N = number of respondents

5. Weighted Mean and Frequencies. These were used for the data

on the status of livelihood of the hog raisers affected by

African Swine Fever.

Where: NR = the number of responses

registered for any item in any
categories.

CP = the number of corresponding

points assigned to any of the
given categories.

N = the number of respondents.

6. Multiple Regression Analysis: This was used to find out the

relationship between the independent and dependent

variables.

7. To test the difference between the variables Bonferroni

Multiple Comparisons were used. The Bonferroni correction is

a method used to counteract the problem of multiple

 46

comparisons. It was developed and introduced by Italian

mathematician Carlo Emilio Bonferroni. The correction is

based on the idea that if an experimenter is testing a

dependent or independent hypothesis on a set of data, then

one way of maintaining the family wise error rate is to test

each individual hypothesis at a statistical significance

level of 1/n times what it would be if only one hypothesis

were tested (Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia 2012).